Can you express swollen anal glands?

This is a discussion on Can you express swollen anal glands? within the Dog Health forums, part of the Keeping and Caring for Dogs category; Our giant schnauzer has what appears to be swollen anal glands. We noticed a lump on her right butt cheek last night. The vet made ...

Our giant schnauzer has what appears to be swollen anal glands. We noticed a lump on her right butt cheek last night. The vet made an appointment for tomorrow, but our friend is coming by tonight who is a vet tech. He said he might be able to express them.

Is it safe to do so? Ive been looking into anal glands online, hers dont look as bad as ones that ive seen that needed to be lanced, it looks more like a nasty spider bite in size. about 1-2 inches long, 1 inch wide, and raised about 1/2 inch.

Ill be taking her in either way, but im just wondering if its ok to relieve some of the pressure tonight, or if we should save it all for the vet.

I'd probably have the vet do it. Not because your friend the tech can't do it (I've done my dogs many times) but because it might be a good thing for the vet to see exactly what condition the anal glands are in, and what comes out of them. That is, what state of impaction and/or infection are present. If there is an ongoing infection, antibiotics may be prescribed.

Besides, it makes a terrible stink, and you might as well squirt that stuff all over the vet's exam room, where its easily cleaned up, rather than your house.

Ticks have been so bad lately that a combination of the Flea/Tick preventative and a collar for ticks such as a Preventic Collar or a Scalibor Collar are being recommended in heavily tick infested areas. Perhaps something to consider.

I have to express Willow glands but I got the OK from my vet, they showed me how. Definantly let the vet check it out to make sure and let them do it there.
When I have to do it to Willow I bring her outside never inside. After I wash her back end, I dont want that nasty smell in my house!

Drove an hour, got to the vet, the tech said it doesn't look like anal glands (which I told them yesterday on the phone, but they insisted it was), then one of the vets called in sick so I have to wait another hour for the next vet...

Hopefully it's nothing serious.

It's too far over to be anal glands, by about an inchPosted via Mobile Device

Turned out to be some sort of a large blood blister type thing. The vet put a needle in to see what would come out and it was a bunch of watery blood, about 40cc worth or so.

They said they could send it in for labs, but since she is only 8 months old they doubt it's anything serious. We were sent home with antibiotics and I was instructed to keep the area clean. She has a follow up next week to make sure it's gotten/getting better.

Cause was probably playing in the back yard and hitting something pretty hard with her butt, or an abnormal reaction to a wasp sting or bug bite.

She did really well at the vet and didn't flinch or anything until the last part of the draining, then she tried to sit down. Good dog!Posted via Mobile Device